Jacqueline B.
Yelp
We came here to watch the Chicago Red Stars, ladies soccer team. They don't play actually in Chicago but in Bridgeview. They had a deal with Weeds Tavern on Dayton Street: $30 for a ticket, free drink, and round trip rides from the game! Only select games. We wanted to support the Stars after the Riotfest debacle. (frankly watching soccer is like watching paint dry with a ball moving around in the background, but that's besides the point)I'll do a Weeds review separately.
The Seatgeek stadium is near a hotel and mini mall with restaurants. I probably should have gone to one of those, but I'll get to that in a sec. The area around it is nice, security was efficient too. There were giveaways, games for kids, and it's big but not humongous. What I liked a lot was the bag policy, oddly enough. It was not nearly as strict as Guaranteed Rate field or Solider Field, or Wintrust arena, where they have you using all the pockets and can't take anything bigger than a clutch purse inside. (I have seen people with regular bags inside as well, but since I do not have a car, I don't want to bring something I have to toss away).
The bag policy at Seatgeek is 14 inches, about the size of a normal tote bag. Maybe because it is much smaller than the other venues, they can allow regular size bags. Anyway, it was nice to hop on the bus with my drink, and enter with all my creature comforts.
The stadium is easy to navigate, and crowded but not swarming (it was a 8:30 START game time, the place was just under half full, so that may be why). It was a nice night, warm but not muggy, which is good bc everything is outside, even the merchandise area. The food was the typical overpriced kind, but what made it worse was it WASN'T HOT! I got chicken tenders, popcorn, and my party got a brisket sandwich that was lukewarm at best. It came with coleslaw, we could not find forks. Do they not cook at games anymore? I realize cooking takes longer, so to move the lines and save labor, they probably heat everything from frozen and stick it under a heat lamp. The atmosphere of the place was cool, the bathrooms were clean. We sat on bleacher seats with no cup holders, but we were behind the net, some nice shots from there, chance to catch a ball too. If we go again we will see if the place has cupholders, and if we drive, we will definitely eat in one of the surrounding areas first!